"Mainstream" vs "Taboo" Erotica

Conventional industry-standard book classification systems do a
poor job of distinguishing mainstream erotica from taboo erotica.
This makes it difficult for retailers and readers to distinguish
one from the other. At Smashwords, we carry a wide variety of
legal erotica, including books that contain taboo themes.

In September 2017 we implemented new erotica classification
requirements for Smashwords authors and publishers.

Below is a summary of “Taboo” themes and their definitions.
These definitions were developed in close consultation with our
largest retail partners to ensure uniform policy enforcement
across our distribution network.

Erotica titles which have been certified by their authors or
publishers as containing none of the themes listed below are
considered "mainstream erotica" and will be shown if readers
select the
"Include mainstream erotica"
option from the filter.

Books containing one or more of the themes listed below are
considered "taboo erotica," and these, along with older erotica
or erotic romance books which have not yet been certified, will
be filtered out of a reader’s Smashwords search results unless
the reader selects the
"Include all erotica"
option.

“Taboo” theme definitions

Age play -
One or more consenting adult characters role playing,
pretending to be babies or children.

Bestiality -
Sexual relations between humans and real-world animals (sex
with Big Foot, dinosaurs, shape shifters and other imaginary
creatures is not bestiality).

Dubious Consent (dubcon) -
A common and popular theme in mainstream fiction. Dubcon
explores the gray area between consent and non-consent. Not
clear if the receiver of the sexual act was fully on board
or not at the time of the act. Most major retailers carry
dubcon erotica.

Incest or pseudo-incest -
Sexual relations between family members, whether biologically
or non-biologically related. Includes stepbrother, stepsister
and step-anyone.

Nonconsensual sexual slavery -
Erotic depiction of a person captured or held against
their will, such as kidnapping, imprisonment or human
trafficking. Not to be confused with BDSM, which is predicated
upon informed consent and negotiation between both parties
before the act, and which provides safe words so either
partner can end the act if it goes too far. If the book
adheres to BDSM best practices, we instruct authors and
publishers to not classify it as nonconsensual sexual slavery.

Rape for titillation -
The dominant theme of this book is rape — whether the
rape is by one person or a character is raped by a group of
people, i.e. a gang rape or nonconsensual "gang bang" —
and it targets readers who are titillated by the fantasy of
nonconsensual sexual relations.

The above list is not all inclusive. There are many other
taboo themes that have never been allowed at Smashwords.
For a full summary of Smashwords erotica policies, please
review Section 9f of the
Smashwords Terms of Service.

Deck the halls with mistletoe! For years, shy wallflower Elspeth Douglas has pined for the attentions of dashing Brody Girvan, Laird of Invermackie. But the rakish Highlander doesn’t even know she’s alive. This Christmas, she realizes that she’ll never be happy until she stops loving her brother’s handsome friend.

On a dull day at White’s, the Redheaded Rake agreed to a wager: seduce and abandon the lovely Lady Leisterfield by Twelfth Night. After one taste of her virtue, he will stop at nothing less than complete possession.

In this delightful collection of Regency novellas--a clause in a wicked will ruins an inheritance, an old friend impedes a long anticipated betrothal, blackmail and murder spoil a house party, and a pregnant stranger brings a Christmas miracle.

It's Christmas 1817 and the Duke of Danby is matchmaking again!
Spend the holidays in Yorkshire with freshly fallen snow, Yuletide balls and mistletoe kisses.
The Duke's Holiday Hijinx includes: Ava Stone's On the Way to the Castle; Samantha Grace's Three Little Words; and Claudia Dain's Suitor By Surprise

A Christmas wish.
A dash through time.
What would you do if your one true love belonged in the past? Find out what happens in this sweet, holiday romance by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, L.P. Dover.

It's Christmas 1940, and USA Today bestselling author Linda Needham invites you back to Nimway Hall for Book Five in the series! Engaged to be married in the final, steamy love scene in THE LEGEND OF NIMWAY HALL: 1940 - JOSIE, wartime intelligence agents, Josie and Gideon, are in for a wild adventure as they negotiate the hidden dangers of planning a wedding in the midst of a war.

Enjoy this USA TODAY bestselling collection of holiday themed cozy mystery short stories in some of our most popular series! Written by #1 Amazon, New York Times, and USA Today bestselling authors! These short holiday bites are perfect for enjoying while waiting in shopping lines or binge-reading over a cup of hot cocoa.

100% of Author Royalties To Be Donated to TOYS FOR TOTS
It is a dark and snowy Christmas Eve and the roads are impassable. Canterbury’s inns are full, but the door of the local brothel stands open and Frau Klaus welcomes all who come seeking shelter. Gather with the stranded travelers around her Tannenbaum as they share secrets, holiday tales and stories of love.

Carly Gatlin doesn’t want to spend another holiday alone so she’s come to New Zealand to be with her step-family. Kip Sullivan’s big, boisterous family have also arrived en-masse—please shoot him before the match-making gets out of hand. Kip wants to make Carly’s first Kiwi Christmas special, but will he gain more than mistletoe kisses from the woman who threatens to claim his heart?

Investigator Charlie Parker and family are ready for a quiet Christmas at home but along comes a new case which made national headlines. Five years earlier, Tali Donovan was acquitted of killing her two children and then she vanished. Now, at the anniversary of the children’s disappearance, their father wants answers, knowing he will not find peace until he knows what really happened.

Charlie and Drake get a dream honeymoon--three months in a secluded mountain cabin near the famous Taos Ski Valley, while their home in Albuquerque is under construction. Drake will operate his helicopter for skiers and Charlie finds herself drawn into a case that combines the Taos art world, stolen religious artifacts, and murder.
"a delightfully complex mystery." Romantic Times, (4-stars)

When the Agatha Christie Book Club signs up for a cruise on replica steamship the SS Orient they expect little more than a nostalgic journey back in time. What they get would leave Hercule Poirot scratching his egg-shaped head—one missing passenger, two dead bodies, and enough red herrings to fill the Pacific Ocean. Jump aboard for the second adventure for the beloved book club friends!

Professional rugby player John Sheldon has wanted nurse Gwen Chambers since he first saw her at his team's Christmas auction, but when he’s injured in a match just before Christmas he suddenly needs her too. But how can he convince her to help him when he broke her heart?

The powerful Duke of Danby is at it again! 1816 was the year without a summer, but what a Christmas it will be when His Grace finally turns his matchmaking machinations to distant branches of the Whitton family tree.
Collection One includes:
Ava Stone’s Lady Patience’s Christmas Kitten...
Rose Gordon’s Mistletoe and Michaelmas...
Lily George’s A Christmas Courtship...

They’re dreaming of a White Christmas…
Carly Gatlin can’t wait to take her fiancé to Colorado for a snuggly snow-filled Christmas, only a freakish summer storm sweeps in disabling everyone’s plans. Still, with holiday surprises in store and even a secret admirer for Stewart Island’s elderly notorious matchmaker, the happy couples of Oban might not mind being home for Christmas after all.

When the ghouls come out to play... the amateur sleuths are on the case! Curl up by the fire and sip a cup of cider with this collection of 4 full-length, spooky cozy mystery novels from USA Today bestselling and award winning authors! This collection includes:
Calamity Jayne and the Haunted Homecoming, Mystic Mayhem, Lipstick, Lies & Dead Guys, Murder Casts Its Spell

Ester's life has changed for the better. When she found Bones she'd been adrift for a long time, homeless and living on the edge of humanity. Those days have left their scars, on her mind and body. Finally settled into their relationship, she wants to give Bones the greatest gift, only to realize those dreams are a casualty of her past.

After attending the funeral of an old school friend, five Regency gentlemen make a pact never to marry, convinced it will save them from meeting the same fate. Five Regency Christmas novellas from USA Today Bestselling authors - Ava Stone, Jerrica Knight-Catania, Jane Charles, Aileen Fish and Julie Johnstone